Folding guard for revolvers



(No Model.) D. L. TOWER.

FOLDING GUARD POIQREVOLVERS.

No. 366,531. Patented July 12, 1887.

Maw I:

(1 M 1. WW

01M (lift w p wg N PETERS, Pholo-Lilhugnphqr, wmin wn, n a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL L. TO\VEB-, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

FOLDING euARo FOR REVOLVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,531, dated July 12,1887.

Application filed Oct .ber 19, 1886. Serial No. 216,633.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL L. TOWER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Folding Guard forPistols; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pistolconstructed with my improved folding guard; and Fig. 2 is a detachedsectional view of the guard, illustrating its folding attachment.

It has been found very desirablcin the construction of pistols, andespecially self-cocking revolvers, to provide, in connection with thetrigger-guard, a supporting-piece to be engaged by the second finger, soas to steady the pistol in taking aim, leaving the first finger free topull the trigger. This object has hitherto been attained by means of aprojec-.

tion formed integrally with the guard and adapted by its position andform to afford a suitable support for the second finger; but such aprojection from the guard, while suitablein every respect as a means forstcadying the pistol, becomes very objectionable in connection withpocket or holster pistols, because of the room which it takes up and itsliability to catch, preventing thereby a ready withdrawal of the weaponwhen required for use.

The object of my invention is to secure in a pocketor holster pistol allthe advantages of a holding-piece for the second finger, to serve as asteadying or supporting guard, without the objectionable feature of aprojection which will require additional room in the pocket or holsterand be liable to become caught and entangled in its withdrawaltherefrom. This object is attained by thecombination, with the ordinarytrigger-guard, of a supportingpicce so pivoted as to admit of beingfolded up when not in use and present no projecting point or surfaceoutside of the guard, but which may be readily and quickly swung out toproject in a suitable position to furnish a hold and support for thesecond finger,whereby the pistol may be steadied in the hand.

In the accompanying drawings, A repre- (No model.)

a rod or bar bent at one end nearly at a right angle, so as to presentthereby a longer arm, 0, and a shorter arm, D, as clearly shown in Fig.2. An extended aperture or slot, E, is cut in the rear bent portion ofthe guardplate A, to receive the bent portion of the steadying-piece B,which being fitted therein is hinged thereto by means of a transversepivotpin, F. The position of the pivot-pin is so adjusted with referenceto the length of the shorter arm, D, of the steadying-piece B that whensaid piece is swung out in aline coinciding with that of the rear bar,G, of the guard, as shown in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines, Fig. 1, theouter end of the arm D will strike against the guard at the end of theslot, and thereby prevent a further movement of the steadying-piece outfrom the guard.

The slot E is so extended above the pivot-- pin F as to form a recess,within which the shorter arm, D, of the steadying-piecc B may enter andbe inclosed when its longer-arm, O, is swung up against the lower bar,H, of the guard; and this lower bar, H, is recessed on its outer side toreceive and partially inclose said longer arm when it is thus closedagainst it.

The folding steadying-piece B is so shaped that when its longer arm isfolded against the guard, as is shown in positive lines, Fig. 1, theentire piece will conform substantially therewith throughout its lengthand be partially or wholly concealed therein, and will present nomaterial projection therefrom.

For use, when the pistol is to be fired, the

steadying-piece B is readily swung out into 7 pivoted portion thereof atother points than that illustrated, and I contemplate the use of such astop in any position thereof.

I claim as my invent-ionl The combination, with a pistol and itstrigger-guard, of a steadying-piece, substantially as described, pivotedthereto to swing out therefrom and provided with an offset or stop tolimit its movement, substantially in the manner and for the purposeherein set forth.

2. The combination, with the triggerguard 1 A, of the hingedsteadying-pieee B, folding against the guard and provided with a stop,D, to stay it when opened out, substantially in the manner and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL L. TO\VER.

WV i tnesses:

S. A. Smvnns, A. N. JESBERA.

